Steve Martin and Gary Scruggs (son of Earl Scruggs), 2009
From the Album "The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo"
Daddy played the banjo, ‘neath the yellow tree
It rang across the backyard, an old time melody
I loved to hear the music, I was only five
I listened as his fingers made the banjo come alive
Sometimes I’d wake up at night, and hear a distant tune
The banjo would echo, ‘round my childhood room
I’d sneak down the back stairs, Daddy never knew
I’d grab a broom and make believe, I was pickin’, too
One day Daddy put my fingers down upon his fist
He picked it with his other hand, we made the banjo ring
Now the music takes me back, cross the yellow day
Soon the summer’s with my Dad, and the tunes he made
But I’m just tellin’ lies ‘bout the things I did
See I’m that banjo player who never had a kid
Now, I sit, beneath that yellow tree
Hopin’ that a kid somewhere, is listening to me
Daddy played the banjo, ‘neath the yellow tree
It rang across the backyard and wove a spell on me
Now the banjo takes me back, through the foggy haze
Where memories of what never was, become the good old days
Notes:
Those last 2 verses... what an interesting twist. "But I’m just tellin’ lies ‘bout the things I did," and "memories of what never was, become the good old days." It was only after listening to the song several times that the meaning of those lines jumped out at me, and the feeling was like being taken aback. The first 3 verses can bring tears to my eyes, then, the startling last 2 verses induce reflection...
I recall playing this song while riding around in Bigfoot with Ai during the Spring of 2010 and explaining the words to her. It's funny... that was at a time when Ai had decided that she liked banjo music and wanted to know more about it.
I've pondered those lines many times since...